Does ProFlowers Really Work?

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ProFlowers is an online flower delivery service that has been around for over a decade now and is one of the major flower distributors in the country. They have a wide assortment of flowers for all occasions, but will they really show up as shown on the site?

Overview
There are many instances when you want to send flowers, including birthdays, anniversaries, when someone is sick, or to send your condolences. No matter what the occasion it’s important that the flowers show up in great condition so that the person receiving them gets uplifted. Traditional flower services make sure that the bouquet looks good before delivering it, and it arrives all put together and ready to place on a table or counter. With ProFlowers there’s a bit of a DIY aspect to it, as it comes in a shipping box and requires the recipient to put the finishing touches on it.

The Claim
There are several claims made by ProFlowers regarding their service, and some of these claims have generated lawsuits into their validity. For instance they’ve sometimes stated that the flowers come from the fields and are shipped direct to your door.

The Hype
ProFlowers is one of the major players in the flower industry, and has captured a lot of market share in just a short amount of time, focusing primarily on generating online orders. Their major competitors are FTD and 1-800-Flowers and between the three of them they send pretty much all the flowers sent in the USA. Flowers are big business, so they spend millions of dollars in advertising each year so you might recognize the brand just by being in the market for buying flowers.

The Cost
The cost of the flowers is based on what kind you’re ordering, and how big the bouquet is. They really have a wide assortment of prices, so you can send flowers even if your budget isn’t too high. It shouldn’t cost a ton to be thoughtful, so it’s nice that there are plenty of options in the $20 to $30 range that will work wonders for things like birthdays and anniversaries.

The Commitment
It’s easy enough to order from ProFlowers, and they only require enough information to process the order and get it delivered successfully. They do have some lawsuits pending for signing people up for a membership program, so be sure to make sure that all boxes are unticked during the checkout process so that you don’t inadvertently get signed up for any ongoing program.

Evaluation
We’ve directly witnessed ProFlowers in action twice, once on an order of stargazer lilies that arrived looking great and exactly as pictured, and another smaller bouquet of yellow roses that showed up looking old and wilted. The latter order was promptly refunded by the company through email communication with customer service, but at the same time it caused us to never use the service again. Here’s why: You can’t risk it when it comes to flowers, they have to be 100% perfect 100% of the time or else what’s the point? You’re sending someone flowers because you want them to feel good, to brighten their day, or to apologize for doing or saying something stupid. If the flowers show up dead it can have the opposite effect of what you’re going for. Yes, it’s the thought that counts but that only gets you so far.

You also have to consider that the flowers show up in a shipping box, check out the video above to see what we’re talking about. It’s almost like the recipient receives a flower kit, and they’ll need to open it and put it in order to make it look like it does in the pictures. If you don’t want to put the burden on them to make the flowers look presentable go with a local service that will arrange the flowers by hand before driving them over.

Another option that you have for quality control is to buy the flowers yourself and hand them directly to the person you’re buying them for. Then you know for a fact what the flowers look like and you don’t have to risk it. But there are many instances when that’s just not an option, and a bulk of the business that ProFlowers does is for times when you can’t bring the flowers yourself do to logistic restrictions.

Final ProFlowers Review

Overall, ProFlowers is getting our Solid Try rating because they have shown that they can in fact deliver quality flowers at competitive prices, and the presentation of the box that arrives is often very good, with flowers that are fresh and with instructions provided on how to keep them looking good for as long as you can. Under optimal conditions they are a good service to go with because you can get a lot of flower for the dollar. But we’ve also seen them at their worst, which only showed that they have good customers service, but still they should have never shipped flowers in that condition.

Our Recommendation
If someone is really mad at you and you are trying to make them not mad at you, this might not be the best service to go with because you just don’t know exactly what is going to show up. When it’s super important that the flowers arrive in pristine condition, go with a service that will hand-deliver a bouquet. But when you’re not in any hot water and you’re just sending a bouquet to be thoughtful, we’d recommend ProFlowers, as they’ve shown they can deliver.

What do you think? Does ProFlowers work or not?

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I am personally very glad that FTD Florists have more competition than they used to. They set the bar so many years ago for online delivery (and telephone orders before that!), but in the last few years it seems like they’ve gotten a little sloppy. The flowers look worse than generic when they arrive, but that may depend on the store they contract with. Or maybe the quality hasn’t changed a lot but they are so much more expensive. In any event, I’m glad to know about Pro Flowers (I’ve used 1-800-Flowers with good results, too). Competition really does help to keep companies from becoming too complacent where quality is concerned.

I agree with the writer of this story in regards to flower delivery. Regardless of price, you need to know that the flowers will come as advertised. I can’t imagine sending flowers to a pretty girl only to find out afterwards they were wilted. Thumbs down. End of story.

I’ve used both 1-800-Flowers and FTD, but I’ve yet to try ProFlowers. I hate the idea of flowers arriving in a box. Whenever I’ve used the other floral services, I’ve always chosen the option to have a local florist do the delivery in person. Is it really true that ProFlowers doesn’t offer this option? Even with 1-800-Flowers and FTD, I worry about quality, actually. My preference is definitely to go to our local downtown florist and make the order in person. I have one friend that I always send flowers to each year on her birthday. I’m no longer living near her, so the local florist isn’t an option anymore, unfortunately. Anyway, I’d love to see ProFlowers become a true competitor to the other online services, but I won’t be using them until they offer the option of having a real florist do the delivering (in a real vase, NOT a box).

I tried ProFlowers for Mother’s Day two years ago. I love the option of just ordering online and paying online. The flowers arrived on time and were beautiful. I have used ProFlowers for all my flowers, plants and gifts for all occasions. The only thing I don’t like about it is that the flowers do arrive in a box instead of a vase. I always order the vase when ordering flowers, but the vase comes in a separate box. The flowers are fresh and they last for several weeks. The prices are very reasonable. I will always use ProFlowers. You can find coupons online for them too.

I have utilized services like this one in the past. I do not remember if it was ProFlowers or not, as it was many years ago. But I do recall being really satisfied with the results. It is a great way to order a gorgeous bouquet for someone special and have it delivered right to their door. You do not even need to leave the house, and you can find some surprising deals on some great flowers that your recipient will fall in love with. The next time I need a great gift idea, I will try ProFlowers.

The last 3 times I used Pro Flowers has steadily gotten worse. You never know if the flowers will last a day or a week. The last bunch arrived with have the petals off the buds in the bottom of the box. Out of the rest of the roses about a quarter of those the stems were so short they didn’t reach out of the vase. Pro Flowers and subsidiaries have see the last of my money. Back to a local florist for me.

I ordered a beautiful arrangement to be sent to my daughter at work on her birthday. I knew from the website that they would be delivered in bud form to ensure they bloom after you receive them and last for awhile. She received them on Tuesday and by Thursday they were wilting. Some of the buds never opened, but they were wilting and the petals turned crunchy and black. I followed the instructions to a tee, cut stems, put the supplied plant food in the water, took leaves out of the water, etc. After this happened, I read reviews on the Consumer Affairs website. They received one star from 305 people. That definitely says something about this company. I just wish I looked before I used them. Buyer beware!

My husband ordered flowers for me in November. The total was $117.47. In reviewing our December credit card statement, Proflowers charged our credit card for $117.47, THREE TIMES! Also, they charged us for $72.47, for an unknown reason. Buyer BEWARE, they fraudulently charge credit cards.

Ordered some flowers and a mini rose plant. The total was about $35. Proflowers charged me shipping for each item despite the reality that they were going to the same address. After another $10 for delivery day guarantee and another $6 just because they can, my total was over $75. $40+ shipping and handling for a delivery to one place is obscene. I will not use Proflowers again.

The worst possible Mother’s Day gift. I expected a nice arrangement similar to the one in the picture to be delivered to my Mother’s home. Instead she received a box with a cheap vase & make it herself. The flowers were brown weathered and falling once they were unwrapped from the squashed hard plastic it came wrapped in. I paid $49.97 for 24 stem roses. I was so upset, I called customer service 5 times every time the agent would hang up on me as I was explaining the situation. Needless to say I could not understand what they were saying, they don’t speak English. Never again! I could have gone to my local Walmart and purchased a beautiful arrangement instead of this garbage. Its my fault for believing false advertisement. Don’t waste your time Please!

Just received a Mothers Day order, a azeala plant that arrived on time and when I removed it from the box many petals were already in the bottom, the plant looked faded already and just got worse, this the second time I ordered from you and felt you sure could do a lot better, very disappointed for sure and will not order again.

I ordered my wife birthday/Christmas flowers when she was having an awful week at work. I paid an extra $15 to have them delivered in the morning as she was getting off work at noon that day. The flowers didn’t show up and ProFlowers didn’t bother to call me ahead of time to let me know there was a problem. I called and They suggested I call Fedex to inquire about the delivery. I said that you advertise about cutting out the middle man so why should I track down my own order? I demanded a refund and that’s all they offered after completely ruining a very special occasion. ProFlowers, you ruined what was to me and my wife a special surprise that she really needed without even a heartfelt “I’m sorry, let us make it up to you.” You’ve lost a customer for life.

I am so annoyed! I ordered a Valentine’s Day gift for my boyfriend and paid $20 extra to have it delivered on Valentine’s Day. I received two separate emails stating very clearly that it would delivered on Valentine’s Day. So imagine my surprise when my boyfriend sends me a picture of the gift and says thanks honey I love it. Are you kidding me?!? I didn’t pay extra to have it delivered 2 weeks early. I paid to have it delivered on that day! I called customer service and they gave me the run around. I finally said you can either refund my money or I will call my bank and dispute the charges because i have proof in writing in two separate emails stating very clearly that I paid extra for a delivery date of Valentine’s Day. They finally agreed to refund my money because they knew I was right and could prove be it. I will never again use this company. Their customer service is awful! How can they stay in business with so many negative reviews?

I’m not much of a review person but I thought I would put my two cents into pro flowers. They are by far the best flower service I’ve ever used. My mom’s birthday was March 12 she lives in Florida. It’s now the 22nd and they look gorgeous still . She said they’re so beautiful they look fake. LOL she keeps sending me pictures because she’s never had flowers that pretty and they last so long. ProFlowers was very reasonable on the price as well. Thank you ProFlowers

Man I’m so angry right know just paid 60 dollars for some Rose’s shown online with Proflowers and when they get to my moms today they suppose to be 12 Dozen Rose’s and none of the flowers have petals on them and are dry and different colors so upset know never again just thank God it happened b4 Mothers Day

I received for mother’s day lilies and strawberries from my kids I would hate for them to know how bad the lilies turned out just because someone did not do their job. Did not receive the packets for them, did not bloom and wilted away. Just because someone did not do their job. Mothers day was ruined.

I was really scared after I placed my order for mother’s day and then began reading all the terrible reviews.

However, my experience went really well. My mother got her flowers on time and was a little concerned when they looked a little wilted. After we discussed that they come in bud form, and seeing them open a bit in water, we both felt a lot better.

It has been 2 days and the flowers are gorgeous! I couldn’t be happier!

I am very disappointed with the flowers that were delivered. I ordered smiles and sunshine flowers, I think there was one rose, and it looked like a child put it together . I ordered the flowers to say thank you to a friend. I wish I could show a pic of how the flowers arrived. Oh, and no card was with the flowers.

The worst flowers I’ve ever received! As pathetic as it sounds, Walmart has nicer roses for sure! Lovely packaging , lovingly packed garbage. These a wimpy and pathetic, plus who wants green roses? Don’t waste your money and don’t support this industry. My spouse ordered them so now I have to pretend to like them when in reality I’ve never been more disappointed.

Avoid this company like the plague they are. They are very happy to charge convenience fees and additional delivery charges and then do nothing. The flowers were due to arrive on Valentines day. Instead I got to show my wife a photo of the flowers she should have received. Lucky her. Three emails to the email address supplied have gone unanswered, probably because everyone in the Indian call center they use is busy butchering any concept of the actual phrase “customer service” . Climbing the fence into the nearest garden center at 4 am with a flashlight and some wire cutters would give you far better results.